ARABS IN REVOLT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22889, 25 May 1936, Page 9

ARABS IN REVOLT

ANTAGONISM TO JEWS BRITISH SOLDIERS IN HOLY CITY POLICE PATROLLING THE STREETS o (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) JERUSALEM, May 28. (Received May 24, at 6.30 p.m.) Following yesterday's Arab raid on a food convoy at Haifa which was repelled, an attempt was made to set fire (o the Levant Fair. It is understood that emergency measures are being introduced to control all traffic. The Seaforth Highlanders are guarding the main points of the holy city, and the police, wearing steel helmets, are patrolling the streets. Emir Abdullah rebuffed Arab overtures for his support. He deprecated violence and advised the acceptance of a Royal Commission. MILITARY SAFEGUARDS ROAD SERVICES CONVOYED BY TROOPS TIGHTENING UP THE SITUATION JERUSALEM, May 24. (Received May 24, .at 8 p.m.) The authorities are tightening up the measures dealing with the Arab-Jewish tension. They have prohibited the Arab strike leaders leaving the towns in which they reside and interdicted the conference of Arab Mayers. Motorists without permits arc prohibited from using the roads in order to prevent /the terrorists carrying out motor raids, the consequence of which is that all road traffic is at present convoyed by troops. Train services have been reduced and night trains cancelled. All trains carry a military escort. Many shooting affrays are reported throughout the country. Incendiaries set fire to the police cricket pavilion at Nazareth. A bomb was thrown into an open air kiuema, injuring two of the audience, at Haifa, where the Arab boatmen have struck. There are at present 5000 British troops in Palestine, including a tank corps. The old city of Jerusalem, which Jewish families are reported to be evacuating, is tlue original town lying within the walls, and contains the temple area, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other sacred sites. The greater part of the modern Holy City is of comparatively recent growth and spreads halfway to Bethlehem on the south, a good distance toward Ain Karem, on the west and on the north to the foot of Mount Scopus, where the British war cemetery stands. Development to the east is prevented by the precipitous nature of the country,. ! More than 100 miles of new streets have been added during the past 12 years. Wide thoroughfares have been constructed and buildings follow the modern styles of architecture. The initiative behind the recent expansion has been mainly Jewish, and there are now (50,000 Jews in the city out. of a population of 100,000. Fifty years ago the population of the city was approximately 24,000.